Health chiefs hope system is hit not miss

HEALTH chiefs have launched a reminder service in a bid to cut down on the number of missed medical appointments.

Around 86,000 appointments are missed each year by patients, which is estimated to cost NHS Lothian around £1 million.

The pilot telephone system will be introduced for patients who attend the chronic pain, cardiology, medical paediatrics, plastic surgery, urology, musculo-skeletal physiotherapy and ophthalmology departments.

Dr David Farquharson, medical director, said: “We want to make it easier for patients to attend their appointment and obtain the care and treatment they need.

“But if they are unable to make the allotted time and date, we need them to work with us and cancel it in advance. This new system is designed to make that easier for patients and ensure that someone else can benefit from the appointment if they can’t use it.”